Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 138: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SOME “Tl say I'll talk!” declared Miss Larra- bie, her face whitening again. “ My Gawd!” she breathed once more, evidently afflicted with a realization of the narrow- ness of her escape from the meshes of the law of which she stood in dread. “How did you become acquainted with Frayne?” “‘ How does any girl get acquainted with a man?” demanded Miss Larrabie in some astonishment. “I passed him on the street one night. I gave him the ‘ up and down’ and he fell for it immediately. I hadn’t been talking to him more than five minutes before he was hipped for fair.””’ Miss Lar- rabie evidently took some pride in her achievement, for she smiled fatuously. Hamlin’s interest was not in the progress of Miss Larrabie’s conquest of Frayne; he wanted to know where he could find the man. ) “ All right,” the said. ‘I don’t wonder that Frayne fell in love with you. But Frayne is a crook; and I’m after him. You’ve got a chance to escape a prison sen- tence by telling me where I can find Frayne. —to-night.” Miss Larrabie sighed—it was a tremulous effort, and it evidently hurt her to betray - the man who had been so romantically at- tracted to her. But there was no doubt that a vision of a dark cell in the Tombs was disturbing. , “T hate to throw a fellow down, Mr. Cop,” she said. ‘‘ But I give you my word I didn’t know he was a crook. I suppose I’ve gotta tell?” “Tell or go to jail.” “Well,” she said resignedly; “Ill tell what I know. It ain’t much. I’ve never been to Frayne’s rooms-—though he’s asked me. So I don’t know where he lives. I’ve been meeting him when I could get away. I’ve got a date with him to-night at the -corner.”’ : “It’s rather late for a date, isn’t it?” Hamlin looked at his watch; the time was shortly after one. Miss Larrabie blushed. to an all-night joint for supper, plained. Hamlin asked her when she intended to meet Frayne, and when she replied that she 9A ‘We was going ” she ex- MAN! 129 was “ due” now, he opened the door and motioned for her to follow him. She did so, hesitatingly, and in the hall Hamlin halted. “Tl go with you as far as the corner, Miss Larrabie. We'll meet Frayne. You’ve got a home, I suppose?’ ‘““T stay at my mother’s when I want to.’ “Well, after we meet Frayne, you see how fast you can get to your mother’s. And don’t come back here—even for your clothes. Send for them. If you come back Tl pinch you. Do you understand?” Evidently Miss Larrabie understood. She nodded a vigorous affirmative. She fol- lowed Hamlin down-stairs, and stood near the door, looking out, whilé Hamlin talked with Labrue. Hamiin explained to the latter that he was abroad upon service which concerned Miss Richards; and when he mentioned Frayne, Labrue’s eyes kindled. “That’s the guy that’s been hangin’ around there for the past two or three weeks,” he said. ‘‘ He’s been watchin’ the house for that Seeley Gray bunch, Miss Richards said. I’d like to herdride the scum.” | “ That’s a task I have reserved for my- self, Labrue,” grinned Hamlin. ‘“ After I get him in here, you just see that we are not interrupted.”’ Labrue smiled broadly. An instant later Hamlin and Miss Larrabie were walking down the steps. At the corner they en- countered Frayne. The latter betrayed some hesitation in approaching Miss Lar- rabie, evidently regarding Hamlin as a rival for his place in the lady’s affections; but when she, having apparently become con- vinced that she must betray her Samson into the hands of the law’s minion, walked straight toward him, he grinned and came forward, shooting an interrogative glance at Hamlin. The latter was in no mood for delay or subterfuge. He had seen that the street was deserted; and when Frayne came close to Miss Larrabie, looking at her inquiringly, as though he expected her to introduce him to her friend, he struck viciously. The blow landed on the point of Frayne’s jaw. Frayne’s legs sagged, he stumbled for- Go JOO AMG S (C@